October 2, 2006

A two-Fer

The Real Bettie Page: The Truth about the Queen of Pinups: Richard Foster
“During the 1950s, she set hearts ablaze with her killer curves and girl-next-door smile. Her cheesecake modeling earned the adoration of industrialist Howard Hughes and a subpoena from vice-presidential candidate Estes Kefauver. Her images remain etched in our memories. “

The Last Boleyn: Karen Harper
“She Survived Her Own Innocence, and the Treachery of Europe’s Royal Courts

Greed, lust for power, sex, lies, secret marriages, religious posturing, adultery, beheadings, international intrigue, jealousy, treachery, love, loyalty, and betrayal. The Last Boleyn tells the story of the rise and fall of the Boleyns, one of England’s most powerful families, through the eyes of the eldest daughter, Mary.

Although her sister, Anne, the queen; her brother, George, executed alongside Anne; and her father, Thomas, are most remembered by history, Mary was the Boleyn who set into motion the chain of events that brought about the family’s meteoric rise to power, as well as the one who managed to escape their equally remarkable fall. Sent away to France at an extraordinarily young age, Mary is quickly plunged into the dangerous world of court politics, where everything is beautiful but deceptive, and everyone she meets is watching and quietly manipulating the events and people around them. As she grows into a woman, Mary must navigate both the dangerous waters ruled by two kings and the powerful will of her own family in order to find a place for herself and the love she so deeply desires. ”